"Yesterday?"
Kyōichi understood.
He had directed Guy to find Kakashi, and it seemed Kakashi wasn't satisfied and had asked Guy about the "culprit," specifically coming today for revenge.
However.
His skills were still lacking.
Kakashi's assassination and sword techniques were strong, and his adaptability was quick, but unfortunately, Kyōichi had mastered Earth Spear, which required no hand signs to take effect. Combined with his powerful physique, he directly seized Kakashi's sword.
Of course.
The key was dodging the first attack.
"..."
Kakashi wanted to turn and leave, but his White Light Blade was still in Kyōichi's hands.
Initially, he only wanted to teach a lesson, so he hadn't even unsheathed his sword, but unexpectedly, the result was his complete defeat, even losing his sword.
Damn it!
"Do you know where you lost?"
"..."
Kakashi stared at him intently.
Kyōichi smiled and said: "First, you underestimated me."
"Mm."
Kakashi nodded, not denying it.
He had indeed underestimated him.
He mistakenly thought Kyōichi was just a chūnin sensei, not worth worrying about, but after attacking, he discovered his opponent's strength was terrifying.
Not just Earth Style and taijutsu.
The Body Flicker Technique from earlier seemed to have hidden mysteries he couldn't yet understand.
The key was.
The speed was too fast!
Kakashi thought his own speed was quite good, faster than many jōnin, but compared to Kyōichi, he was still considerably slower.
From his attack to hitting the "clone," he couldn't tell when his opponent had formed hand signs for the Body Flicker Technique.
"Second..."
Kyōichi's fingers danced, the short sword twirling in his hand.
Very flashy!
Useless in battle, but it demonstrated one thing—he also understood swordsmanship.
Kakashi didn't understand.
His eyes fixed on Kyōichi, waiting for the rest of the answer.
"I think it's better if you review and reflect on these issues yourself."
???
Kakashi was instantly confused.
He waited all this time for just that?
Could have said so earlier!
He took his sword and turned to leave.
Kyōichi couldn't help but laugh.
No matter how serious he acted, he was still just a child.
He looked at the father and son duo. After Guy's mockery earlier, he had been disciplined again by Might Duy, quite violently, and had only just stopped.
Afterwards, the three of them continued training.
Kakashi followed behind.
He had initially left, but after thinking for a while, his mind kept dwelling on his weaknesses.
However.
He felt...
There wasn't any problem?
Kakashi was proud.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't think losing was a problem, only believing that given time, he would eventually surpass them.
This was a genius's confidence!
But.
Kyōichi was different.
He was only fifteen.
Six years' difference wasn't huge, but wasn't small either, yet his opponent was well-rounded, almost without weakness.
Kakashi lacked sufficient confidence.
"Weakness..."
He repeatedly replayed the battle scenes in his mind, and vaguely had some ideas.
The sword!
The problem was with the sword!
He suddenly understood and quickly caught up to ask: "Is it about the sword?"
"Oh Kakashi, you didn't leave? I knew it, you definitely want to challenge me, let's have a passionate battle!"
Guy instantly became enthusiastic.
Kakashi ignored him.
This guy.
Even though he had won yesterday, the other's reaction made it seem like he had lost.
Annoying!
He stared at Kyōichi.
Kyōichi smiled and said: "Your sword technique, ninjutsu, and taijutsu are all good, but you don't have any particularly outstanding ability. Your sword technique is strong, but deep down you resist it, unwilling to strengthen it."
"..."
Kakashi clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, glaring angrily at Kyōichi, "What gives you the right to say that?"
"Am I wrong? I heard the Hatake clan were originally samurai before becoming ninja, so they've always passed down sword techniques. If you truly trusted sword techniques, why not incorporate ninjutsu and taijutsu into your swordplay?"
Kyōichi didn't know White Fang's sword technique.
However.
Whether from the anime or their recent encounter, he didn't believe Kakashi truly trusted the short sword.
Dependent yet resistant.
That was the current Kakashi.
"..."
Kakashi had nothing to say.
White Fang's sword technique wasn't like his current style.
Ninja Sword Technique!
That was White Fang's sword technique, and his White Light Blade was actually a chakra weapon, capable of being used with chakra to display even greater power.
But.
He resisted in his heart.
Because Kakashi would unconsciously think of his father, the man who had "brought shame" to him and the clan.
"Do you truly understand your father?"
"If you think White Fang was shameful, then just abandon the sword, because someone like you isn't worthy of using the White Light Blade. Better give it to someone who needs it more."
"If you're interested, I can trade you the Earth Style jutsu from earlier and a secret technique for it, definitely worth more than the sword."
Kyōichi said with a smile.
These words...
Cut to the heart.
Might Duy looked at Kakashi.
"Your father was a great man."
Duy had met Kakashi's father, he was a great man.
Yes.
A man, not just a ninja.
From a ninja's perspective, Sakumo abandoning the mission to save his comrades was certainly dereliction of duty, but as a person, he protected his comrades, daring to sacrifice something for them.
Such a person was worthy of respect.
"None of you understand anything!"
Kakashi gripped the White Light Blade tightly and left using Body Flicker Technique.
Kyōichi shrugged and said: "Seems he doesn't understand. Let's continue training."
"Ah..."
Might Duy sighed softly.
Guy didn't quite understand.
In many ways, he wasn't that clever to begin with, otherwise he wouldn't have been called a rare beast by Kisame Hoshigaki.
"But he still psychologically depends on it, even in this state he won't give up the sword technique."
Kyōichi seemed to imply something.
Kakashi hadn't gone far, with a ninja's hearing ability, he could definitely hear these words.
But after this, Kyōichi really left.
Being mentor-like had its limits.
Chasing after someone to teach would be too undignified.
He was a life guide, not an incompetent teacher desperate for students. If Kakashi could figure it out, he'd figure it out himself; if not, it wasn't his concern—let Minato Namikaze worry about it.
Kakashi sat in a tree by the river, staring at his sword lost in thought.
"Do you truly understand your father?"
These words echoed in his ears.
Very direct!
He'd heard it from others before, but this time, Kakashi's reaction was particularly intense.
Because the other's words seemed unreasonable, yet bothered him greatly.
Resisting the sword?
He didn't know.
After thinking for a while, Kakashi's fists clenched again.
No!
It was precisely because he abandoned the mission that he committed suicide, bringing shame to the Hatake clan.
He left in anger.
Kyōichi didn't get a system notification, but he wasn't surprised. If Kakashi could be so easily swayed by talk-no-jutsu, he wouldn't have been stuck in his ways for so many years, and wouldn't have been so universally disliked in the ninja community.
However.
His "previous self" really had no presence—despite having briefly been on the same team as Kakashi, that kid couldn't recognize him at all.
After running for a while, he continued training as usual near the original forest.
This time he deliberately practiced the Seven Heavens Breathing Method!
[ Next update will contain 10/15 chapters. I will decide the day based on which one of the days mentioned below gets the most votes]
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Monday